The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-13
A MESSENGER.

Eur Us tuc tNc CAn ttaNtI, INV ""''''
human habtaton can be seen, only h'oa'
sweep OF half reclaimed moorland, broker
by huge gray powders, clumps OF colder
sracken, and withered furze.
To eastward, however, there is the CLEAN
ING water and the blue line OF distant hills.
One autumn evening the old man sat alone
by the kitchen fire. gazing sorrowiIlly into H.
His pipe lay neglected on the hob, and the
beautiful collie that was stretched at his feet
looked up in vain for the kindly notice t.
which he was accustomed and by and 10y
Moss rose and laid his head on hi, masters
knee in deep dumb sympathy.
The little farm, poor though it was, and
tie small dark house were dear to the old
man; and from time to time no glanced visit
fully round tho kitchen.
The 6tful freight fell on the dark beams
Of the anceicd roof, danced upon the shining
tinware hanging on the wall, anu tho old
fashioned plates aud dishes ranged along the
POLISHED oaken dresser and lit up tho bras
face Of the ancient clock ticking away the
hours.
Ali, dear! How long wonld it all be his'
Things had been going against the farmer.
His sheep had died, aud his hay had been
badly won, and, for the first time in his
honest, hard working life, the rent day was
close at hand and he could not meet it.
so within that tiny homestead old ago sat
alone with care aud grief, while outside were
youth and love and hope and happiness.
The gold OF sunset yet fingered in "A few
faint streaks amid the dark clouds to west
ward. but the shadow of approaching night
lay on ali tho land.
Scarcely sound was to be heard save the
fresh, clear voice OF young girl calling
home the cows.
alloy, IIofy, IIofyl" as is the sweet, half
piaiHtive cry of the north country, and the
answering low Of the gentle creatures came
nearer and nearer through the twilight
Long ere the beasts have reached their
home another ear had heard til. madens
call, and tall handsome lad was 10y Aagsys
side, and her warm young lips felt her lovers
kiss.
Poor, mothcrlcss Maggyl her life had been
lOncly one, though the stern old father
loved her almost TO idolatry-loved her with
an cxacting intensity that made him long TO
keep her ever IN his sight, and jealous Of all
wno looked upon his darling, and by its very
passion raised "A barrier between his chiId's
heart and his own.
For Maggy, with oil her youth throbbing
within her, and all her beauty (which,
womanlike, she had found out siIe possessed,
flctted against the love winch sought TO cage
her. and grew impatIen. against age which
had lost its sympathy with youth
The father had been well on in middle life
when he married his young wife; and may
he she too had Mi scd something, IL Maggy
t.n - nj l.,.
nature from the mother that died 50 early.
Small blame to the girl that when love
stole into her heart she guarded the secret
carefully from the old mans knowledge
a mother would have guessed it directly
had she seen how the blue eye, deepcned, how
the red pouting lips lost their childish curves
and gained a pcnsive tenderness; but the
change was too subtle one to be marked by
the old farmer.
Full Of care, too, rs he WINS through that
anxious summer, how could he guess that its
gloamings found Maggy lingering by tho
well where the wild roses grew, or watching
the water fowls build their nests in the SO gcs
with one who knew the hnunts aud habits OF
every bird and beast and butterfly in the
country rounda
Such knowledge was ut discount ia the
district, and Ralph Irwin was thought little
better than a fool by the neighh1rs when
they came across him lying ma,ionlrss az u
log TO watch a wild duck in its flight or "a
hawk sweeping down upon its prey.
IL Is odd that OF all classes farmers ns u rule
have the least interest in nature and in the
b bits Of untanod creatures, and the most
supreme contempt for those who caro- to OBJ.
serve the ways OF beasts that have not got
market value, or the growth Of plants that
serve neither for food nor for winter warmth.
SO poor Ralph, with all his instructive cray
,ng to know about everything that lives, his
treasures of dead and living birds, eggs OF all
slaes and colois, his carefully collected. II i'll
ret, moths and butterflies aud his dried
flowers, leaves and ferns, was considered quite
In the light of u ne'er-do weel
His father, too, had possessed the same
tastes and more vagrant habits aud had once
got into IA serious scrape anent "a poaching
Grolic; and the shadow of that disgrace was
still remembered against him the son, though
many a year had passed since tine older
Irwin had lef the boy alone In the world
with no heritr @ save his tarnished name.
To Maggy, however, such Knowledge as
the lad hal managed to acquire seemed per.
fcctly marvellous, and growing intimate with
him opened quite new world to the girl
who bad been brought up TO think that this
beautiful earth was principally good for fat.
tening bullocks and growing turnips
From the day when she met him first by
the lake, the young creatures lonely heart
had opened to him like flower taken from
darkened prison to the light Of tue summer
sunshine.
There was in Maggy, as in many border
maidens, a strange germ Of romance and
poetry; and hitherto her hard prosaic lite
had given It no chance Of development
Now at the touch Of love it burst at once
into maturity.
Her ardent, impulSive nature had been held
down by restraint, and stunted by her
fathers outward GOODNESS; but happiness and
bye's rapture transformed the girl into
q creature tilrobbing with passion and de-
monstrative with gracious abandon, sweet
and subtle in its charm as that which ever
gladdened the heart Of lover In olden story.
She stood with one soft, warm hand rest
ing on Ralph's Ill shoulder, the other strok-
ing his cheek with tender coquetry. and she
nestled to him as his strong arm ciasped her
closaly.
AOh, my love, my love, how did ever live
without your she said 1Life was dreary.
dreary a. the cherries winter time afore the
spring wakens the flowers and brings the